NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 603 



Chamber of Commerce of the United States, 



Washington, D.C., August 26, 1965. 

 Hon. Alton Lennon, 



Chairman, Oceanography Suicoinmittee, Committee on Merchant Marine and 

 Fisheries, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 



Dear Mr. Lennon : Private and public oceanography effort is vital to the 

 economic welfare and security of the Nation. Effective coordination of present 

 and future scientific and technical programs is therefore essential. The estab- 

 lishment of priorities for various oceanography programs and their attendant 

 funding is of utmost importance. However, the approach contained in S. 944, 

 H.R. 7S49, H.R. 921, and other similar proposals would unduly centralize gov- 

 ernmental control and support of oceanography effort. This may create more 

 problems than it solves by disrupting current activities. 



A logical approach would be a study, such as proposed by H.R. 9064, of the 

 extent of the nature and direction of future oceanographic efforts. This study 

 should be conducted by an independent ad hoc group composed of professionals 

 appropriate to the subject, and drawn from Government, industry, and the 

 academic community. The findings of this group would pennit the Congress 

 to effectively evaluate the type of legislative action needed in the field of 

 oceanography. 



Noteworthy progress and advancement have been clearly demonstrated under 

 the present Federal Interagency Committee on Oceanography of the Federal 

 Council for Science and Technology. A hasty decision on changing the current 

 organizational pattern of coordination of oceanography activities could unduly 

 disrupt the statutory missions and relationships of existing private and gov- 

 ernmental activities. 



The diversity of interest and the complexity of the legal, technical, and 

 economic obstacles confronting an accelerated development of the ocean's re- 

 sources require the most prudent study and evaluation of how best to proceed. 



It is our suggestion that the committee delay consideration of any new Fed- 

 eral organizational plans on oceanography until such time as a qualified study 

 and report can be presented to the Congress. 

 Sincerely, 



Don a. GooDAiL, 

 Legislative Director. 



Statement of F. G. Walton Smith, Director, Institute of Marine Science, 

 University of Miami, and President, International Oceanographic 

 Foundation 



I appreciate the opportunity of submitting a statement with regard to the bills 

 concerning the organization of oceanography now under consideration by your 

 committee. 



My opinions are based upon 35 years of experience in full-time oceanographic 

 research and teaching and, more recently, in the organization and administra- 

 tion of a graduate curriculum in oceanographic engineering. 



The continental shelves, which are merely the fringes of the ocean, occupy an 

 area greater than that of the entire moon. The depth of water is less than 

 1,000 feet over the shelf and men have already begun to reside and work in 

 depths which are a substantial fraction of this. It seems reasonable, then, that 

 increased efforts to conquer the potentially rewarding ocean environment should 

 be undertaken with at least some reasonable fraction of the support that is given 

 to invading the relatively inhospitable moon. It is therefore heartening to see 

 a greatly increased interest directed toward our hitherto neglected frontier, 

 the world ocean. In recent years, in fact, there has been a pronounced tendency 

 for Government agencies to expand in the direction of oceanography, so that there 

 are now about 20 agencies Involved. This has been equally true of industry 

 and the universities. 



There is a distinct danger, however, in too rapid a proliferation of this effort, 

 beyond the capacity of the existing qualified and experienced scientists and 

 engineers to train increasing numbers of recruits to the field. Any legislation 

 enacted must therefore recognize the important role of qualified educational insti- 

 tutions in meeting the demand for capable and well-trained personnel. It must 

 also recognize the importance of continued and increased support of basic re- 

 search at universities, since scientists cannot be properly trained without the 

 opportunity to engage in original research. 



